Three great speakers to wrap it up:
Alan Gerard of the Jackson NWS office now doing a presentation on the November 23, 2004 Mississippi tornado outbreak.
These storms moved into Alabama during the early morning hours of November 24 producing extensive damage.
A classic coupled jet structure led to big upper diffluence over the deep south during this outbreak. CAPE was at 1600 at middle of the day prior to the event, directional veering was marginal. Wind fields increased by 00Z and some backing was seen in the low levels. SRH was up to 200.
Three supercells accounted for 13 of the 17 tornadoes reported.
2 F3s were produced
One long track supercell produced 8 tornadoes. One person was killed... the tornadoes missed several large population centers.
NWS JAN suggests low fatality and injury count thanks to good warnings. Plenty of advance notice in discussions days before the event. Average tornado lead time was 14 minutes.
108 warnings issued during the event.
Media praised instant messaging.
Dr. Chuck Doswell is up now... discussing Storm Chasing: Past, Present, and Future.
He is about to show 30 minutes of tornado chasing highlights beginning in 1989. Very very good stuff. Lots of video from the May 1999 OKC outbreak.
His main chase partner is Al Moller, one of the weather greats out in Texas. I enjoyed getting to meet him back in the mid 1980s when I was the lead meteorologist at KDFW, Channel 4, in Dallas. Al and Chuck are two real severe weather cowboys and great chasers.
Early pioneers in storm chasing: David Hoadley and Roger Jensen
Scientific chasing began in the 1960s with Neil Ward.
The Tornado Intercept Project in 1972 was one of the first organized scientific efforts. Lots of mistakes, including core punching. Chuck's first tornado was April 30, 1972. The concept of supercells and wall clouds was introduced. The science was crude, but great ideas by Ted Fujita and Fred Bates.
In the 1980s, the concept of chasing really started to grow. Chasers started to coverge, and some started selling videos.
In the 90s, the movie Twister really picked up interest. Chase tour companies... University chase teams began, the VORTEX project got underway, and chasing was seen by some as an "extreme sport".
Chasing also started in Europe and Australia.
Today, chasers include Yahoos, the media, and newbies.
Some chase caravans are on limited roads... 50 plus chaser vehicles.
THE FUTURE:
More people will chase globally
More commercialism and hype
Irresponsibility will lead to injuries and fatalities
Regulated chasing?
One more speaker ahead...
Alan Gerard of the Jackson NWS office now doing a presentation on the November 23, 2004 Mississippi tornado outbreak.
These storms moved into Alabama during the early morning hours of November 24 producing extensive damage.
A classic coupled jet structure led to big upper diffluence over the deep south during this outbreak. CAPE was at 1600 at middle of the day prior to the event, directional veering was marginal. Wind fields increased by 00Z and some backing was seen in the low levels. SRH was up to 200.
Three supercells accounted for 13 of the 17 tornadoes reported.
2 F3s were produced
One long track supercell produced 8 tornadoes. One person was killed... the tornadoes missed several large population centers.
NWS JAN suggests low fatality and injury count thanks to good warnings. Plenty of advance notice in discussions days before the event. Average tornado lead time was 14 minutes.
108 warnings issued during the event.
Media praised instant messaging.
Dr. Chuck Doswell is up now... discussing Storm Chasing: Past, Present, and Future.
He is about to show 30 minutes of tornado chasing highlights beginning in 1989. Very very good stuff. Lots of video from the May 1999 OKC outbreak.
His main chase partner is Al Moller, one of the weather greats out in Texas. I enjoyed getting to meet him back in the mid 1980s when I was the lead meteorologist at KDFW, Channel 4, in Dallas. Al and Chuck are two real severe weather cowboys and great chasers.
Early pioneers in storm chasing: David Hoadley and Roger Jensen
Scientific chasing began in the 1960s with Neil Ward.
The Tornado Intercept Project in 1972 was one of the first organized scientific efforts. Lots of mistakes, including core punching. Chuck's first tornado was April 30, 1972. The concept of supercells and wall clouds was introduced. The science was crude, but great ideas by Ted Fujita and Fred Bates.
In the 1980s, the concept of chasing really started to grow. Chasers started to coverge, and some started selling videos.
In the 90s, the movie Twister really picked up interest. Chase tour companies... University chase teams began, the VORTEX project got underway, and chasing was seen by some as an "extreme sport".
Chasing also started in Europe and Australia.
Today, chasers include Yahoos, the media, and newbies.
Some chase caravans are on limited roads... 50 plus chaser vehicles.
THE FUTURE:
More people will chase globally
More commercialism and hype
Irresponsibility will lead to injuries and fatalities
Regulated chasing?
One more speaker ahead...